Means for separating heavier from lighter components of comingled fluid

ABSTRACT

Means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid including an upright vessel and a plurality of spaced conical separator screens vertically stacked within the vessel arranged such that lighter fluid components flowing through the vessel flow through the screens, each screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands, all of which are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel.

United States Patent [19 1 Murdock, Sr. 7

MEANS FOR SEPARATING HEAVIER FROM LIGHTER COMPONENTS OF COMINGLED FLUIDInventor: Forrest Lee Murdock, Sr., Tulsa,

Okla.

Assignee: Fishmaster Products, Inc., Tulsa,

Okla.

Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 Appl. N0.: 296,343

US. Cl. 55/176, 55/201 [51] B01d 19/00 [58] Field of Search 55/45,171-176, 55/185, 199, 201, 336, 421, 445; 210/521, DIG. 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,012 7/1900 Koyl 210/5213.208.204 9/1965 Perrson .v 55/445 Mar. 19, 1974 3,664,093 5/1972Murdock, Sr 55/174 1,107,485 8/1914 Bowsel' ZIO/DIG. 5

Primary Examiner--Samih N. Zaharna Assistant ExaminerRichard W. BurksAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Head & Johnson [5 7] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 4Drawing Figures PAIENIEUMRIS 1914 3.797203 MEANS FOR SEPARATING HEAVIERFROM I LIGHTER COMPONENTS COMINGLED FLUID CROSS-REFERENCE This is animprovement over US. Pat. No. 3,664,093, issued May 23, 1972, andentitled Separator Vessel Having Multiple Parallel Separator Plates.

BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION As set forth in theparent patent, a need exists for separating comingled immiscible fluidsfrom each other in the chemical and petroleum industries. The parentpatent sets forth a means for accomplishing this result, thespecification and drawings being directed primarily towards vesselshaving a horizontal arrangement wherein fluids or gases pass generallyhorizontally to reach the outlets of the vessel. This disclosure solvesthe same problems as in the parent patent but is directed towards theprovision of means of utilizing the concepts and advantages of the priordisclosure in a vertical vessel.

In many instances the use of a vertical vessel is de-' sired over thatof a horizontal vessel. A vertical separator vessel having a given fluidhandling capacity normally consumes less space than a horizontalseparator vessel having the same capacity. In addition, some separatingproblems are best solved utilizing the longer vertical flow pathsprovided by vertical vessels.

The invention to be described herein includes improved means for washingone liquid with another. As

a specific example, some crude oil produced is so contaminated with saltthat it is highly desirable that as much as possible of the salt beremoved from the crude before movement through pipeline and processingequipment. For this reason it is sometimes necessary to wash the crudeto remove as much as possible of the salt content. This is achieved bycomingling fresh water, or water low on salt content, with the crudewhereby the water absorbs the salt, or other water soluble contaminantsfrom the crude, and the water is then separated from the crude and thecrude is passed for further processing.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means ofseparating solids from fluids or gas, fluids from gas, and comingledimmiscible fluids from each other, which means overcomes disadvantagesof known type of separators.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide animprovementmeans of separating comingled immiscible fluids of divergentspecific gravity in a vessel par ticularly arranged for verticalmounting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for washing onefluid with another to remove contaminants soluble in the wash fluid.

These as well as other objects of the invention will be fulfilled in theapparatus described in the attached description and claims, taken inconjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is a side view of a vessel forpracticing the invention, the vessel being shown partially cut away toreveal the internal arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of typical material of which the conicalseparator plates are formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, a vessel is illustratedby which the invention is typically practiced. The vessel 10 is uprightand is illustrated as being cylindrical, however, the cylindricalconfiguration is not mandatory but is desirable from the standpoint ofease of construction. The upright vessel 10 has a top 12 and a bottom14. A lower support 16 is provided upon which the vessel sits.

Vessel 10 includes a fluid inlet opening 18, a lower heavier fluidoutlet 20, and an upper lighter fluid outlet 22. Fluid flows throughinlet 18 in comingled condition and is separated in the vessel into aheavier component which flows through lower outlet 20 and the lightercomponent flows out through the upper outlet 22. As an example, crudeoil entering fluid inlet 18 is separated within the vessel into water,the heavier component, which flows out outlet 20 and the petroleumcomponent which flows out upper outlet 22. Provision may be made forremoval of gas from the vessel although such is not shown as this stepis well known in the art.

In the illustrated arrangement fluid flows through inlet 18 by way of aninlet conduit 24 which extends through opening 18 and which terminatescentrally of the vessel 10 by an upturned portion 26. Heavier fluid,such as water, flows from outlet 20 by way of an outlet conduit 28. Itis preferable to maintain an interface of heavier fluid in the lowerportion of the vessel. For this purpose a float'30 is provided whichextends sealably through the wall of vessel 10 to control a valve 32 inthe outlet conduit 28. This is one known arrangement for controllingfluid level in the vessel and other means are well known in the art.

Positioned within the interior of vessel 10 above the inlet 18 is aplurality of spaced apart conical separator screens 34.-Each of theseparator screens is a conically shaped foraminous reticulum ofintegrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands 35of material, preferably metal, all of which strands 35 arelongitudinally downwardly inclined towards the interior wall of vessel10.

The conical separator screens may be formed of material such as expandedmetal shown, in FIG. 4. This material is typically formed by slittingand stretching sheet metal. Other similar materials having differentconfigurations may be utilized within the keeping of the invention. Thematerial must provide an integral reticulum of relatively small widthand small thickness strands which are uninterrupted. The strands permitcoalesced droplets of immiscible heavier liquids to form thereon and totravel downwardly towards the sides and bottom of the vessel, while thelighter fluid migrates upwardly towards the top of the vessel to bewithdrawn through outlet opening 22.

While the number and spacing of the conical separator screens 34 mayvary over a wide range according to the separating application, inprincipal there should be a relatively large number of such screens toprovide a very great amount of contact area through which the fluidflows between inlet 18 and light fluid outlet 22 so as to provide thenecessary surface area to cause the heavier fluid to coalesce and passto the bottom of the vessel.

In the illustrated arrangement the conical separator screens are eachprovided with an opening 36 at the apex. The openings receive anelongated vertical central member 38. The central member 38 functions tostabilize the conical separator screens 34. In further particulars, thecentral member 38 may be, as illustrated, in the form of a conduit whichextends through the top 10 of the vessel. Central member 38 may betubular terminating at the lower end 38A. Said tubular component mayserve not only to structurally stabilize the separator screens 34 but topermit gas to flow out of the vessel.

In an alternate arrangement the lower end 38A may be closed and thetubular central member 38 provided with apertures 40 therein. Wash wateror other wash fluid, introduced into central member 38 flows outwardlythrough the apertures 40, between the conical separator screens 34 anddownwardly within the vessel, contacting the upward flow of lighterfluid passing through the separator screens 34. Any contaminants solublein the wash fluid (salt for example if the wash fluid is water) aredissolved in the wash fluid and carried to the bottom of the vessel forwithdrawal through outlet 22.

In order to shield the downward flow of heavier fluid from the inletflow of the comingled fluid a circular baffle 42 is provided, the bafflebeing open at the top and bottom and centrally supported within thelower portion of the vessel below the separator screens 34. Baffle 42 issupported by means of brackets 44. The circular baffle 42, which ispreferably coaxial within cylindrical vessel 10, provides an annulararea 46 through which the downward flow of heavier fluidmay take placewithout disturbing or tending to intermix with the upward flow of fluidfrom inlet conduit 24. To spread the upward flow from inlet conduit 24 aperforated spreader plate 48 is positioned in the interior upper portionof baffle 42 above inlet conduit upturn portion 26.

Thus the invention described includes means of separating heavier fromlighter components comingled into fluid in an arrangement utilizing anupstanding vessel and particularly, in an arrangement utilizing aplurality of conical separator screens.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of this disclosure. Theinvention is not limited to the embodiment set forth herein for purposesof exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of theattached claim or claims, including full range of equivalency to whicheach element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed:

1. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid, comprising:

an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet,and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and

a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stackedwithin said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighterfluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluidinlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, eachseparator screen being a conically shaped foraminous recticulm ofintegrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands allof which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing amultiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths onwhich heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of saidvessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet; and

centrally disposed baffle means secured within said vessel between saidconical separator screens and said fluid inlet for separating thedownward flow of heavier fluid components from the upward flow ofcomingled fluid through the fluid inlet.

2. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 1 wherein said separator screens are formed ofa conically shaped lattice of expanded metal.

3. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 1 wherein said separator screens are formed ofslit and stretched expanded metal, the apertures therein being ofdiamond shape.

4. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 1 wherein each of said conical separatorscreens has an opening therein at the apex, the opening being coaxialwith the conical separator screen, and including:

an elongated vertical central member received in said conical membersaxial opening.

5. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 4 wherein said conical members are attached tosaid central member.

6. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 4 wherein said central member is tubular andwherein said vessel has an opening in the upper end thereof, saidtubular central member communicating with the exterior of said vesselthrough said opening.

7. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid, comprising:

an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet,and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and

' a plurality of spaced apart conical separator screens verticallystacked within said vessel above said fluid inlet opening and below saidlighter fluid outlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from saidfluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens,each separator screen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum ofintegrally formed relatively small width and small thickness strands allof which strands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing amultiplicity of continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths onwhich heavier components may travel towards the lower portion of saidvessel for discharge out said heavier fluid outlet, wherein each of saidconical separator screens has an opening therein at the apex, theopening being coaxial with the conical separator screen, and including:

an elongated vertical central member received in said conical membersaxial opening, said central member being tubular and wherein said vesselhas an opening in the upper end thereof, said tubular central membercommunicating with the exterior of said vessel through said opening, andsaid central member has apertures therein communicating the interior ofthe central member with the interior of said vessel between each of saidseparator screens.

6 8. A means for separating heavier from lighter comthickness strandsall of which strands are longitudiponents comingled in fluid,comprising: nally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicity anupright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter of continuousuninterrupted downwardly inclined fluid outlet, and a lower heavierfluid outlet; and paths on which heavier components may travel aplurality of spaced apart conical separator screens 5 towards the lowerportion of said vessel for disvertically stacked within said vesselabove said charge out said heavier fluid outlet; and fluid inlet openingand below said lighter fluid outa circumferential upright, opened topand bottom let opening arranged such that fluid flowing from bafflesupported centrally within said vessel below said fluid inlet to saidlighter fluid outlet flows said conical separator screens and providingan anthrough said screens, each separator screen being 10 nular areabetween the exterior of the baffle and a conically shaped foraminousreticulum of in'tethe interior of said vessel. grally formed relativelysmall width and small

1. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid, comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upperlighter fluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a pluralityof spaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within saidvessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluidoutlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet tosaid lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separatorscreen being a conically shaped foraminous recticulm of integrallyformed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of whichstrands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicityof continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heaviercomponents may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel fordischarge out said heavier fluid outlet; and centrally disposed bafflemeans secured within said vessel between said conical separator screensand said fluid inlet for separating the downward flow of heavier fluidcomponents from the upward flow of comingled fluid through the fluidinlet.
 2. A means for separating heavier from lighter componentscomingled in fluid according to claim 1 wherein said separator screensare formed of a conically shaped lattice of expanded metal.
 3. A meansfor separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluidaccording to claim 1 wherein said separator screens are formed of slitand stretched expanded metal, the apertures therein being of diamondshape.
 4. A means for separating heavier from lighter componentscomingled in fluid according to claim 1 whErein each of said conicalseparator screens has an opening therein at the apex, the opening beingcoaxial with the conical separator screen, and including: an elongatedvertical central member received in said conical members axial opening.5. A means for separating heavier from lighter components comingled influid according to claim 4 wherein said conical members are attached tosaid central member.
 6. A means for separating heavier from lightercomponents comingled in fluid according to claim 4 wherein said centralmember is tubular and wherein said vessel has an opening in the upperend thereof, said tubular central member communicating with the exteriorof said vessel through said opening.
 7. A means for separating heavierfrom lighter components comingled in fluid, comprising: an uprightvessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighter fluid outlet, and a lowerheavier fluid outlet; and a plurality of spaced apart conical separatorscreens vertically stacked within said vessel above said fluid inletopening and below said lighter fluid outlet opening arranged such thatfluid flowing from said fluid inlet to said lighter fluid outlet flowsthrough said screens, each separator screen being a conically shapedforaminous reticulum of integrally formed relatively small width andsmall thickness strands all of which strands are longitudinallydownwardly inclined providing a multiplicity of continuous uninterrupteddownwardly inclined paths on which heavier components may travel towardsthe lower portion of said vessel for discharge out said heavier fluidoutlet, wherein each of said conical separator screens has an openingtherein at the apex, the opening being coaxial with the conicalseparator screen, and including: an elongated vertical central memberreceived in said conical members axial opening, said central memberbeing tubular and wherein said vessel has an opening in the upper endthereof, said tubular central member communicating with the exterior ofsaid vessel through said opening, and said central member has aperturestherein communicating the interior of the central member with theinterior of said vessel between each of said separator screens.
 8. Ameans for separating heavier from lighter components comingled in fluid,comprising: an upright vessel having a fluid inlet, an upper lighterfluid outlet, and a lower heavier fluid outlet; and a plurality ofspaced apart conical separator screens vertically stacked within saidvessel above said fluid inlet opening and below said lighter fluidoutlet opening arranged such that fluid flowing from said fluid inlet tosaid lighter fluid outlet flows through said screens, each separatorscreen being a conically shaped foraminous reticulum of integrallyformed relatively small width and small thickness strands all of whichstrands are longitudinally downwardly inclined providing a multiplicityof continuous uninterrupted downwardly inclined paths on which heaviercomponents may travel towards the lower portion of said vessel fordischarge out said heavier fluid outlet; and a circumferential upright,opened top and bottom baffle supported centrally within said vesselbelow said conical separator screens and providing an annular areabetween the exterior of the baffle and the interior of said vessel.